Harrison Dishing the Dirt & Other Opportunities

David L Harrison introduced a “Word of the Month” asking poets to submit a poem inspired by dirt.  He received quite a few.  There were even a few from New Jersey.  If you have the time, click over and read the poems and vote.   He even had an entry from a young girl in the 5th grade.  It’s  nice to see talent start to bloom at such a young age.  The full-bloomers did an awsome job, too.

Don’t miss out on showing off your hand in the poetry arena.  He will be announcing a new word this Sunday.  You can vote up until 12 noon EST on Tuesday.  I have met so many of you who love to write poetry.  Well, here’s your chance – show off.

As I was over voting for my favorite poem – not going to tell, don’t want to influence you, I somehow found my way over to The Miss Rumphius Effect Blog – by Tricia Stohr-Hunt.  She is a teacher who sounds like she teaches poetry.  She submitted a dirt poem for David’s contest. I thought you might like to read it and then take a minute to look at her blog. 

I send you to her blog, because this is another place you can show off your poems.  She has a Monday Poetry Stretch.  Last week was a Zeno – Do you know what that is?  I didn’t, but now I do.  The week before that it was a Double Dactyl.  Thank goodness she explains.  I don’t think I am ready to try my hand at this, but I found it very informative to read about the different types of poems.  Even if you only write prose, a writer can learn a lot by reading poems.  Poets are such wordsmiths.  Here’s Tricia’s Dirt Poem.

The opposite of clean is dirt
Like ketchup dribbled on your shirt
Or grass stains on your favorite jeans
Or brown stuff stuck to fresh plucked beans
It’s bunnies made of dust and hair
And specks and flecks found everywhere!

Below are a few places for writers to submit their writing, maybe make a little money and show off a little more.

CARPE ARTICULUM LITERARY REVIEW NOVELLA COMPETITION
http://www.caliteraryreview.com/index.php  
—
$25 ENTRY FEE
Deadline: January 7, 2010                                                                                                                                                                              Must be between 26 and 150 double-spaced pages.
First place,$1000.                                                                                                                                                                                         Second place $300.
Third place $100.

Dream Quest One 

Poetry and Writing Contest –http://www.dreamquestone.com/

$10 Entry Fee

Deadline: December 31, 2009

Writing Contest

entries may be written on a maximum of (5) pages, either neatly handwritten or typed, single or double line spacing, on any subject or theme.

Poetry Contest

entries may be written on any subject or theme. All poems must be 30 lines or fewer and either neatly handwritten or typed, single or double line spacing.

 

You never know when or where you will be discovered, so use these opportunities to make things happen. 

So don’t end up like Mrs. Bones sitting on your porch and not writing.  Even if you are a published author with many books under your belt, you can still build your audience.  It can be a fight to stay at the top. 

Hope this helps,

Kathy